Diffuser and ceiling fan combination

ABSTRACT

A diffuser for a ceiling allows a ceiling fan to be mounted directly below the diffuser so that the fan may distribute the air being delivered out of the diffuser. The diffuser includes an upper box section mounted on a lower section that mounts the diffuser on the ceiling. The down rod of the ceiling fan is connected to the diffuser to support the ceiling fan. The down rod may be supported above the upper section so that the electrical connections between the ceiling fan and an electrical source may be positioned outside of the diffuser.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. ProvisionalApplication Ser. No. 60/172,265 filed Dec. 17, 1999, and from U.S.Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/226,163 filed Aug. 18, 2000; thedisclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Technical Field

[0003] The present invention generally relates to heating, ventilation,and air conditioning air distribution equipment and, more particularly,to a ceiling diffuser that includes a ceiling fan to more thoroughlydistribute the air flowing through the diffuser.

[0004] 2. Background Information

[0005] Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning duct work incommercial buildings is typically disposed above the ceiling. Air isdistributed into the rooms of the building through vents located in theceiling. Diffusers are used in the vents to evenly distribute the airflowing out of the vent.

[0006] Ceiling fans are also used to distribute air. Ceiling fans hangbelow the ceiling of a room. One problem in the prior art is thatceiling fans must be hung away from the vents because the ceiling fansmust be connected to a support structure. The removed position of theceiling fan often creates cold or warm spots in the room. The art thusdesires a structure that allows a typical ceiling fan to be mounteddirectly below a diffuser in a ceiling vent. Another problem in the artis that rooms have limited panels in which to install lights, vents,fans, sprinklers, speakers, etc. The art desires devices that combinethese elements to limit the number of ceiling panels used in a room.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present invention provides a diffuser for a heating,ventilation, and air conditioning system that allows a ceiling fan to becentered directly below the diffuser. The invention provides thiscombination by providing a diffuser box having a mount that receives astandard ceiling fan. The invention provides the combination diffuserand ceiling fan while allowing the electrical connection between theceiling fan and electrical service to occur outside of the diffuser box.

[0008] The invention provides the above combination in furthercombination with a light to minimize the number of ceiling panels filledin a given room.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009]FIG. 1 is a front view, partially in section, of the firstembodiment of the combination diffuser and ceiling fan of the presentinvention.

[0010]FIG. 2 is a sectional front view of the connection between theceiling fan and the top of the diffuser box.

[0011]FIG. 2A is a sectional view of a collar insert for use with asmaller diameter down rod.

[0012]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a room using two combined diffuserand ceiling fans of the present invention.

[0013]FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing an alternative uppersection.

[0014]FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of a second embodiment of thecombination diffuser and ceiling fan.

[0015]FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

[0016] Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout thespecification.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] The first embodiment of the combined diffuser and ceiling fancombination of the present invention is indicated generally by thenumeral 10 in the accompanying drawings. Combination 10 is depicted inFIG. 3 as being installed in a typical drop ceiling 12 in a room 14.Combination 10 functions to evenly distribute air within room 14 byimmediately distributing air exiting the diffuser 16 with the fan 18.

[0018] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, ceiling 12 includes a plurality ofceiling panels 20 supported by a plurality of frame members 22. Varioustypes of ceiling panels 20 and frame members 22 are known in the art andcombination 10 of the present invention is intended to work with a widevariety of ceiling panels 20 and frame members 22. Frame members 22 aretypically supported by supports 24 from a fixed roof (not shown) of thebuilding. In addition, combination 10 is intended to work with otherceilings 12 other than the drop ceiling disclosed in the drawings.Combination 10 decreases the number of ceiling panels used to supportitems in a room.

[0019] Ceiling fan 18 is any of a variety of ceiling fans known in theart that includes a plurality of blades 30 extending from a hub 32 thatis rotatingly driven by a motor 34. Fan 18 may also include one or morelights 35. Motor 34 is supported by a down rod 36. Down rods 36 known inthe art are typically ½ inch or ¾ inch outside diameter and include ahollow channel 38 that receives wire 39 that provides power to motor 34.Fan 18 may be rotated in either direction and the speed of rotation istypically controlled by the user.

[0020] Diffuser 16 includes a plurality of concentrically-disposed vanes40. Vanes 40 may be square as depicted in FIG. 3, triangular, round(FIG. 6), or any of a variety of other shapes as is known in the art.Vanes 40 are connected together and supported from a diffuser box 42 bysupports 44. Diffuser box 42 includes a lower section 46 and an uppersection 48. Lower section 46 of diffuser box 42 is configured to besupported by support members 22 and is typically the same size as oneceiling panel 20 so that lower diffuser section 46 replaces a ceilingpanel 20 as shown in FIG. 3. Box 42 thus rests on four supports 22.Section 46 may include feet 50 that rest on support members 22 and maybe connected to support members 22 by connectors such as screws, bolts,rivets, adhesive, etc. In past diffusers, the air inlet tube 52connected directly to section 46 so that the air flowing through tube 52was directed immediately into vanes 40 and into room 12. In the presentinvention, air inlet tube 52 is connected to upper section 48 of box 42.In the preferred embodiment, air inlet tube 52 is connected to a sidewall 54 of upper section 48. Side wall 54 is angled with respect tovertical so that the air flowing into box 42 is directed downwardlytoward vanes 40. In an alternative embodiment, the opposite wall isangled (FIG. 4) to strengthen upper wall 56 and to direct airdownwardly.

[0021] Diffuser box 42 includes an upper wall 56. Upper wall 56 supportsan electrical box 58 that contains the electrical connection 60 betweenwire 39 and electrical supply wire 62. Electrical box 58 also supportsdown rod 36 in a position where rod 36 is centered with respect to vanes40.

[0022] Down rod 36 is supported by electrical box 58 with a collar 70that includes an upper section 72 and a threaded lower section 74.Threaded lower section 74 threadedly receives a nut 76 that clampsagainst a support plate 78. Support plate 78 engages wall 56. Collar 70has a shoulder 80 that rests inside electrical box 58. Upper section 72includes a hole that receives a pin 82 that extends through collar 70and through down rod 36 to prevent down rod 36 from rotating withrespect to electrical box 58 and moving downwardly or upwardly withrespect to electrical box 58. Collar 70 is preferably connected toelectrical box 58 by a secondary connector 84 to prevent collar 70 fromrotating with respect to electrical box 58. Connector 84 may be any of avariety of connectors suitable for holding collar 70 stationary withrespect to electrical box 58. For instance, connector 84 may be a pin, ascrew, a bolt, an adhesive, a nut and bolt combination, a protuberancethat interferes with the rotation of collar 70, etc.

[0023] Down rod 36 extends through the center of vanes 40 and isconnected to the bottom wall 90 of vanes 40 by a grommet 92. Grommet 92prevents down rod from rattling with respect to vanes 40 and dampensvibration.

[0024] When down rod 36 is reduced in diameter, grommet 92 is increasedin size to make up the difference. In addition, a collar insert 94 (FIG.2A) is fitted within collar 70 to accept the smaller diameter down rod36.

[0025] The second embodiment of the combined diffuser and ceiling fancombination of the present invention is indicated generally by thenumeral 100 in FIGS. 5 and 6. Combination 100 is depicted in FIG. 5 asbeing installed in a typical drop ceiling 12 in a room similar to room14 depicted in FIG. 3. Combination 100 functions to evenly distributeair within the room by immediately distributing air exiting the diffuser16 with fan 18.

[0026] Combination 100 includes many of the same elements describedabove described above with respect to combination 10 and the samenumbers are used to refer to these elements. Combination 100 includes asupport assembly 102 that supports down rod 36 from diffuser box 42. Inthe embodiment of the invention depicted in the drawings, supportassembly 102 is connected to lower section 46 of diffuser box 42.

[0027] Support assembly 102 includes a plurality of support rods 104that extend from box 42 to a collar 106 that surrounds down rod 36.Collar 106 prevents down rod 36 from shaking or rattling if fan 18becomes unbalanced. Each support rod 102 is adjustable through the useof adjustment nuts 108 disposed on both inner and outer ends of supportrods 104. Support assembly 102 allows combination 100 to be used withoutgrommet 92.

[0028] Combination 100 also includes a support frame 120 that supportsdiffuser box 42 from the structural elements 122 of the building inwhich combination 100 is being installed. Support frame 120 includes atleast two vertical risers 124 that are connected to the sides of box 42.An upper horizontal support 126 extends across the top ends of verticalrisers 124. An intermediate horizontal support 128 extends betweenvertical risers 124 and is positioned above electrical box 58.Intermediate horizontal support 128 supports the top of electrical box58 and thus provides support to fan 18 that is connected to supportstructure 122.

[0029] The outside of box 42 is preferably insulated with an insulatingmaterial that prevents box 42 from gathering condensation. Down rod 36is also preferably covered with a foam insulation to prevent down rod 36from gathering condensation.

[0030] In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used forbrevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are tobe implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art becausesuch terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to bebroadly construed.

[0031] Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is anexample and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown ordescribed.

1. In combination, a ceiling fan and a diffuser adapted to be positionedat a vent in a ceiling wherein an air inlet tube delivers air to thevent; the ceiling fan including a down rod, a motor, and a plurality offan blades; the down rod of the ceiling fan passing through a portion ofthe diffuser to position the fan blades of the ceiling fan below thediffuser.
 2. The combination of claim 1 , wherein the diffuser includesan upper section having at least two opposed sidewalls.
 3. Thecombination of claim 2 , wherein at least one of the sidewalls is angledwith respect to vertical; the angled sidewall being adapted to connectwith the air inlet tube.
 4. The combination of claim 3 , wherein bothopposed sidewalls are angled.
 5. The combination of claim 1 , whereinthe diffuser includes a diffuser box having an upper wall; thecombination including an electrical box supported above the upper wallof the diffuser box; and the down rod of the veiling fan being supportedby the electrical box.
 6. The combination of claim 5 , wherein the downrod is centered with respect to the vanes.
 7. The combination of claim 5, further comprising: a collar disposed inside the electrical box; thecollar being connected to the electrical box with a first connector; thecollar surrounding a portion of the down rod; and a pin extendingthrough the collar and the down rod.
 8. The combination of claim 7 ,further comprising a secondary connector connecting the collar toelectrical box.
 9. The combination of claim 1 , further comprising agrommet disposed between the down rod and the vanes.
 10. The combinationof claim 1 , further comprising a support assembly connected to thediffuser; the support assembly engaging the down rod of the ceiling fanto support the down rod.
 11. The combination of claim 10 , wherein thesupport assembly includes: a collar that surrounds a portion of the downrod; and a plurality of support rods that extend from the diffuser tothe collar; the support assembly preventing the down rod from shaking orrattling when the ceiling fan becomes unbalanced.
 12. The combination ofclaim 1 , further comprising a support frame connected to the diffuser.13. The combination of claim 12 , wherein the support frame includes: atleast two vertical risers that are connected to the diffuser; an upperhorizontal support that extends across the vertical risers; and anintermediate horizontal support that extends between the verticalrisers; the intermediate horizontal support being positioned between theupper horizontal support and the diffuser.
 14. The combination of claim13 , further comprising an electrical box positioned above the diffuser;the electrical box being connected to the intermediate horizontalsupport.
 15. The combination of claim 1 , wherein the diffuser iscovered with an insulating material.
 16. The combination of claim 15 ,wherein the down rod is covered with an insulating material to preventdown rod from gathering condensation.
 17. A diffuser adapted to supporta ceiling fan from a vent in a ceiling; the ceiling fan including a downrod, a motor, and a plurality of fan blades; the diffuser comprising: anupper section in the form of a diffuser box having an upper wall and atleast a pair of opposed sidewalls; a lower section connected to theupper section; the lower section being adapted to mount the diffuser tothe ceiling; a plurality of vanes supported by the lower section; andthe upper section adapted to support the down rod of the ceiling fan tosupport the ceiling fan.
 18. The diffuser of claim 17 , wherein theupper wall of the diffuser box is adapted to support the down rod of theceiling fan.
 19. The diffuser of claim 18 , further comprising anelectrical box connected to the upper wall of the upper section.
 20. Thediffuser of claim 19 , wherein at least one of the sidewalls of theupper section is angled with respect to vertical.